Circus game construction



y 1969 H. E. FERNANDEZ 3,445,114

CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. 1454:: 5 ken/mas:

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y 1969 H. E. FERNANDEZ 3,445,114

CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1965 MMM Qmm M United StatesPatent 3,445,114 CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Helene E. Fernandez, CanogaPark, Calif., assignor to Mattel, Inc. Filed Feb. 28, 1966, Ser. No.530,682 Int. Cl. A631) 71/04, 65/12 US. Cl. 273101 4 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A circus game construction incorporating a tightropegame, a cannonball game and an acrobatic or catapult game. The tightropegame includes a wire with a series of bends along its length extendingbetween a pair of spaced vertical supports and a platform movable alongthe bent wire for carrying a tightrope-walking object. The cannonballgame includes a slide adapted to be carried by one of the verticalsupports and a catcher means carrying a basket adapted to catch a ballrolled down the slide. The acrobatic or catapult game includes a springcatapult for launching an acrobatic object onto a platform whichreplaces the basket atop the catcher means. The tightrope game consistsof two spaced stands supporting a rigid member having a plurality ofbends. A tightrope walker is moved along the rope by pulling either endof a string attached to it. Also attached to one of the stands is asloping trough and movably positioned on the base of the game is atarget in the shape of a bear having a cup shaped member balanced on itshead. The catapult game comprises a spring catapult with an object inthe shape of a monkey placed thereon. The monkey has a magnetic base.Also included is another animal figurine having a rotatable metallicplatform balanced on its head.

The present invention relates to improvements in indoor gameconstructions and, more particularly, to a novel circus gameconstruction.

Over the years, the circus has captured the interest and imagination ofhundreds of thousands of peopleparticularly those young in years orheart. Much to the disappointment of many of these people, they areconfined to the role of spectator and are unable to participate, even byway of imitation, in the activity and excitement of the circus.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to bringsome of the thrills and color of the circus into the home where it canhe participated in and enjoyed by all members of the family.

Another, more specific object of the present invention is to provide anovel indoor game construction for performing several exciting andentertaining circus acts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gameconstruction of the foregoing character which is easy to assemble andoperate even for children.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gameconstruction of the foregoing character which is simple in design,sturdy in construction, yet economical to manufacture.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of the presentinvention may be more clearly understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when taken with the drawings which, by way ofexample only, illustrate one form of circus game embodying the featuresof the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the circus game construction;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a portion of the circusgame construction associated with the cannonball act of the circus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 inFIGURE 1 illustrating the connection for a tightrope to supporting polesin the game construction;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the platforms for stationing ontop of the supporting poles in the circus game construction;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a headgear for mounting on top ofobjects representing various animals for performing acts in the circusgame;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a rotating platform utilized in thegame construction;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a walking platform utilized in thetightrope walking act performed with the circus game construction;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of one of the inanimate objects representing apanda bear;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 inFIGURE 1 illustrating the manner in which the headgear of FIGURE 5 and abasket are mounted on top of the head of the panda bear; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional side view taken along the line 10-40 in FIGURE1 illustrating the construction of a catapult for propelling a monkeyfrom the base of the circus game to the rotating platform on the head ofa seal.

In the drawings, the circus game construction is represented generallyby numeral 10 and includes a combination of elements for performingtightrope walking, cannonball and acrobatic acts.

More particularly, the construction 10 includes a board 12 which acts asa fiat base for the game and supports a ring 14 representative of thecenter ring in a circus. The board, as well as the ring, may be formedof various materials and may be separate pieces interlocked in anyconvenient manner.

In addition to defining the center ring, the ring 14 includes a pair ofdiametrically opposite sockets 16 and 18 for receiving the lower ends ofvertical poles 20 and 22, respectively. The tops of the poles 20 and 22support stationary platforms 24 and 26 of a tightrope walking means 28which in addition to the platforms includes a stiff wire 30 having aseries of bends therein, a tightrope walking object 32, and drive means34 for moving the object back and forth along the tightropehere the wire30.

In the tightrope walking means 28, the stationary platforms 26 and 24provide end support for the bent wire 30 between the poles 20 and 22. Tothis end, as is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, theplatforms each have a diametrically slotted socket 36 extendingvertically from their lower surfaces with a pair of diametricallyopposite ears 38 extending outwardly from the socket in a vertical planenormal to the plane of the slots. The opposite ends of the bent wire 30are adapted to extend through the slots in the sockets 36 and around oneof the ears 38. Thus to secure the wire 30 in place, the stationaryplatforms 24 and 26 are first removed from the tops of the poles 20 and22 and the ends of the wire inserted through the slots in the sockets 36and around one of the ears 38. The stationary platforms 24 and 26 arethen returned to the vertical poles 20 and 22 to cap ture the ends ofthe bent wire within the sockets 36 above the upper ends of the poles.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the tightrope walking object32 comprises a generally fiat, circular base 40 and an upright member 42shaped to represent a circus animal, here a lion. Thus arranged, thetightrope walking object 32 is adapted to balance on a travelingplatform assembly 44 and to move along the bent wire 30 between thestationary platforms 24 and 26 in response to operation of the drivemeans 34.

As represented most clearly in FIGURE 7, the assembly 44 includes agenerally flat, circular platform 46, a pair of horizontally extending,cylindrical sleeves 48 and 50 stationed one atop the other, andconnected to the undersurface of the platform substantially at its axis,and a rod 52 extending downward from the sleeve 50 and carrying a weight54 adjacent its lower end. A side slot 56 enables the sleeve 5.0 to beslipped over and hence the assembly 44 to be mounted on bent wire 30 formovement therealong in response to operation of the drive means 34.

In the illustrated form of the circus game construction, the drive means34 comprises a string or cord 35 passing through and around the sleeve48, along and above the wire 30, over the stationary platforms, and downthrough edge slots 25 and 27 in the platforms to terminate in smallweights 47. By pulling on one end or the other of the cord 35, theplayer of the game can move the assembly 44 back and forth along thewire 30. During movement of the assembly 44 along the wire 30, the rod52 and weight 54 develop counterbalancing moments on the travelingplatform 46 to aid those playing the game in maintaining the tightropewalking object 32 on top of the platform.

In playing the circus game and in performing the tightrope walking act,the players may be required to first assemble the tightrope Walking actby setting up the poles 20 and 22, attaching the bent wire 30 to theplatforms 24 and 26, placing the stationary platforms on top of thepoles, attaching the traveling platform assembly 44 to the bent wire 30and by directing the cord 35 through the edge slots in the platforms 24and 26. Then, with the traveling platform assembly 44 adjacent one ofthe stationary platforms 24 or 26, the tightrope walking object 32 maybe placed on top of the platform 46.

Once the act is assembled, the player, much as the ringmaster wouldintroduce the act, may call out and now, in the center ring, presentingthe famous, world renowned lion, performing the death-defying tightropewalking act! Then, in the manner previously described, the player may berequired to cause the lion to travel back and forth along the wire 30between the stationary platforms 24 and 26 as many times as possible ina given length of time.

In the game construction 10, the stationary platform 26 not onlyperforms the function of providing end support for the bent wire 30 ofthe tightrope walking means 28, but also provides vertical support for aslide member 58 used in the cannonball act. To this end, the platform 26includes a socket 60 for receiving a vertical pin 62 extendingdownwardly from a reinforcing flange 64 connected to the back of theslide member 58. With the pin 62 in the socket 60, the slide member 58is supported at substantially a 30 angle from the horizontal with anupwarldy turned lower end 66 facing the interior of the ring 14. Thelongitudinal edges of the slide member 58 are upturned to form marginallips 68 for guiding a ball means 70 down the slide, off the lower end66, and into a catcher means 72.

The catcher means 72 may take various forms. Preferably, and in theillustrated form, the catcher means 72 comprises a performance platform74 and a cannonball catching object 76 supporting a headgear 78 andbasket 80 for catching the ball means 70. The performance platform 74 ismanually movable over the board 12 and provides a base support for thecannonball catching object 76, here including a generally circular, flatbase 82 for resting on top of the performance platform, and an uprightportion 84 shaped in the form of an animal, here a panda bear.

As illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 8, the head of the panda bearincludes a slot 86 which is adapted to receive the headgear 78. Theconstruction and assembly of the headgear 78 and basket 80 are mostclearly illustrated in FIGURES and 9. As there represented, the

headgear 78 comprises a base member 88 having a discshaped top 90 and avertical, bifurcated bottom portion 92 for fitting into the slot 86 withlegs extending on opposite sides of the bears head to secure theheadgear and basket in place. A positioning rod 93 extends from the sideof the base member 88 to aid in the positioning of the headgear and inmovement of the cannonball catching object 76 during the performance ofthe cannonball act.

The basket 80, like the headgear 78, is preferably formed of plastic.The basket also includes a plurality of side openings 94 and a pinmember 96 extending from its base. The pin member 96 is adapted to fitwithin a top hole 98 in the base member 88 of the headgear in order toconnect the basket to the headgear. Preferably, the top hole 98 isslightly larger than the pin member 96 such that the basket may be spunduring performance of the cannonball act to increase the diificulty ofthe act.

Prior to the performance of the act, the player of the circus may berequired to set up the cannonball act. Thereafter, he may imitate theringmaster by calling out and now, in the center ring, your attention isdirected to the panda bear who, in his inimitable style, will performthe dangerously exciting cannonball act! In performing the cannonballact, the catcher means 72, including the performance platform 74 andpanda bear 76 supporting the basket 80, is positioned within the centerring in line with the slide member 58. The player selects a position forthe catcher means 72 which, hopefully, will result in the ball means 70being caught in the basket 80 after leaving the slide member 58. Then,the ball means 70 is stationed at the top of the slide member and rollsdown the slide and flip through the air, hopefully, into the basket 80.As in the tightrope walking act, a time limit may be imposed upon theplayer during which he is expected to see how many times he can causethe cannonball to be caught in the basket 80. To increase the difficultyof the act, the basket 80 may be spun as the ball travels down the slideand through the air.

The catcher means 72 is useful not only in the cannonball act but may bealso employed in the acrobatic act as a means for catching a catapultingobject 99 as it flips through the air. Preferably, however, a slightlydifferent form of catcher means 100 is employed in the acrobatic act,and includes a performance platform 102 and an acrobat catching object104. In the illustrated form, the acrobat catching object 104 includes agenerally circular, fiat base 106 supporting an upright member 108shaped as an animal, here a seal. The head of the seal resembles that ofthe panda bear previously described and includes a slot (not shown) forreceiving a headgear 110 similar to the headgear 78 worn by the bear.

Although the headgear 110 is adapted to receive a basket such as 80, inthe acrobatic act the headgear 110 preferably provides support for arotating platform 112 illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 6. As thererepresented, the rotating platform includes a flat, disc-shaped member114 having a smaller metallic plate 116 connected to the top surfacethereof. A positioning rod 118 extends from the outer edge of the disc114 and provides means for positioning the rotating platform 112 and forspinning the platform during the performance of the acrobatic act. Tothis end, an axial pin 120 extends from the bottom of the disc 114 andis adapted to fit within the hole (such as 98) in the top of theheadgear 110.

With the rotating platform 112 positioned on top of the headgear 110,the metallic plate 116 is adapted to provide means for catching andretaining the catapulting object 99 as it travels through the air from acatapulting means 122. To this end, and as represented most clearly inFIGURES 1 and 10, the catapulting object 99 preferably comprises a base124 of magnetic material and supports an upright portion 126 shaped asan animal, here a monkey.

The catapulting means 122 comprises a generally triangular support base128 for resting on top of the game board 12, and a spring arm 130cantilevered from the topmost edge of the base 128. The spring arm 130and base 128 are designed such that when the catapulting object 99 isplaced at the rearmost edge of the spring arm 130 (see FIGURE and thespring arm is depressed and released, the object will flip through theair and travel to the catching means 100 within the center ring 14.Hopefully, the player has placed the catching means 100 in a positionwhere the base of catapulting object 99 Will engage the metal plate 116,be attracted thereto and held in place.

Thus, in the performance of the acrobatic act, a player first may berequired to set up the act by positioning the catapulting means 12?.outside the ring 14 and the catching means 100 within the ring. Then,the player places the catapulting object 99 on top of the catapultingmeans 122, depresses the spring arm 130 a desired amount and releasesthe spring arm. The catapulting object then flies through the air andhopefully lands on top of the rotating platform 112 with the base 124contacting the metal plate 116. Also, hopefully, the trajectory of theobject 99 has been such that it will not slide off the plate 116 butwill strike the plate at such an angle that the magnetic attraction ofthe magnet base 124 for the metal will hold the object in place on topof the rotating platform 112. Again, as in the other acts, a limit maybe imposed to see how many times the player can successfully perform theacrobatic act in a given length of time.

From the foregoing description it is appreciated that the presentinvention provides a game construction which brings the thrills,excitement and color of the circus into the home where it can beparticipated in and enjoyed by all members of the family. This, thepresent invention accomplishes with an economical game constructionwhich is easy to assemble and operate even for children and which issimple in design, structure and economical to manufacture.

In the foregoing description a particular form of circus gameconstruction has been set forth in some detail. Changes andmodifications, however, may be made in the illustrated form Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intendedthat the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A circus game comprising:

first and second support means extending above a substantially flat basefor said game, said support means being spaced from each other;

a tightrope means including a substantially rigid member having aplurality of bends extending between said first and second supportmembers above said base, said tightrope means being positioned in agenerally horizontal attitude by said support members;

a tightrope walking object for balancing on said tightrope means;

means for moving said tightrope Walking object along said tightropemeans;

slide means supported by one of said support means;

ball means for traveling down said slide means;

catcher means on said base for catching said ball means;

catapult means on said base;

a catapulting object for being propelled by said catapult means to saidcatcher means, said object having a magnetic base; and

a rotating platform adapted to be supported by said catcher means, saidplatform including a metallic plate for contacting said magnetic base ofsaid catapulting object to cause said object to stick to said rotatingplatform.

2. In a circus game:

first and second support means extending above a base for said game,said support means being spaced from each other;

tightrope means including a substantially rigid member having aplurality of bends extending between said first and second supportmembers above said base said tightrope means being positioned in agenerally horizontal attitude by said support members;

a tightrope walking object for balancing on said tightrope means;

and means for moving said object along said tightrope means.

3. In a circus game:

first and second support means extending above a base for said game,said support means being spaced from each other;

tightrope means including a member having a plurality of bends extendingbetween said first and second support members above said base;

a traveling platform for moving along said tightrope means;

means connected to said traveling platform for guiding said platformalong said tightrope means;

string means connected to said traveling platform for pulling saidplatform along said tightrope means; and

a tightrope walking object adapted for balancing on said travelingplatform.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including counterbalancing weightmeans extending from said traveling platform below said tightrope means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 503,022 8/ 1893 Whitburn 273-101732,281 6/1903 Durboraw 273-101 FOREIGN PATENTS 252,944 10/1912 Germany.618,199 2/ 1961 Italy.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

